Trent/Severn Waterway, Lock 44 – The Big Chute Marine Railway

Infriggincredible. 

The "railroad car" on the Big Chute Marine Railway

This "lock" consisted of a cross between a dry-dock, a travellift, and a railroad car.  We motored in, and then they stabilized the boat in slings (think: travellift). Then the whole rig moved forward on train tracks (think: railroad; cable-car) up (think: dry-dock) and over (54 foot water level difference) the hill and across a highway (crossing gates shut for cars and people) and down into the next pool.  Never seen anything like it.  We had the ride of our life, in our boat watching the whole thing.

Boats motor into the "dry-dock".  Lockmasters move the boat over the slings.

The whole thing moves forward and up; the slings do not get raised;
the water drains away beneath them.

Then it moves up and over the hill between the two pools.
Over a highway (crossing-gates down).

Detail showing the wheels on the tracks.

View of the marine railway from below.
The blue line is where boats tie up while waiting their turn on the train.

View of the hill. Note the two sets of tracks.
The forward set of wheels on the train car ride on one track;
the other wheels ride on the other tracks (or vice versa).
The train rig stays (approximately) level because of the difference
 in height of the two tracks. 

Slings hold the boat as the car comes up out of the water.

Another view of the two sets of tracks.
The wheels that are more downhill ride on the upper track.
The other set of wheels ride on the other track.
It works to keep things on the level; hard to explain unless you see it.

After passing through (well, up and over) the "lock", we tied up at one of the docks and spent the night. And stayed all the next day and night.  

Finally got the temporary antenna rigged up so we have some VHF while the mast is down – not too important on the canal but critical for our crossings of Lakes Simcoe and, of course, Ontario.

Made arrangements to park our boat at a marina in Orilla Ontario next week – so we can spend several days with Naomi, Clayton & Stephanie in suburban Toronto. They will pick us up on Sunday afternoon.

Only 2 locks to go until that marina – plan to do them tomorrow AM before the crowds.  This is the big 3-day holiday weekend in Canada, so – of course- everyone is here and out on the water or in the anchorages or docks.